1 / 55

The Rise of Greek Civilization

The Rise of Greek Civilization. Week 2:. Introduction: Greek Legacies. Scientific research Philosophy Fine arts (art, architecture, literature, drama, poetry) Democracy Value of the individual Toleration of dissent/open criticism Competitive spirit. Timeline.

Download Presentation

The Rise of Greek Civilization

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. The Rise of Greek Civilization Week 2:

  2. Introduction: Greek Legacies • Scientific research • Philosophy • Fine arts (art, architecture, literature, drama, poetry) • Democracy • Value of the individual • Toleration of dissent/open criticism • Competitive spirit

  3. Timeline

  4. Bronze Age civilizations of Crete (Minoan) Greek mainland (Mycenean) Early History of Greece

  5. Timeline:Bronze Age Greece

  6. Minoan Civilization • Named for Minos, legendary king of Crete (cf. the Minotaur, the Labyrinth, Daedalus & Icarus) • Flourished ca. 1900 – 1500 BCE • Linear A • Island location: • Large fleet • Isolated position Peaceful, Prosperous society

  7. Minoan Civilization

  8. Minoan Civilization ? What happened to the Minoans?

  9. Mycenean Civilization • Flourished ca. 1600-1200 BCE • Linear B • City-states (Mycenae, Pylos, Athens, etc.) • More war-like • Wealthy *Trojan War*

  10. Mycenaean Civilization What happened to the Mycenaeans? • Weakened from war, raids, internal conflict? • Dorian tribes invade?

  11. Greek Dark Ages!

  12. Greek Dark Ages • Chaos, displacement (Dorians move in, conquer or kick out inhabitants) • Illiteracy returns (lack of written records) • Poverty (crude architecture)

  13. World of the Dark Ages • Government • Kings have to consult council of nobles • Society • Class division: nobles, thetes, landless laborers, slaves • Importance of religion • Values • Manliness, courage, excellence → personal honor

  14. Birth of the Polis

  15. Birth of the Polis

  16. The Polis • Central focus of political, cultural, religious, social life → citizens intensely loyal to polis • Main qualities: • Self-sufficient, politically independent unit • Small scale • Tightly-knit, personal

  17. The Polis • On the positive side: • People work hard for the state • On the negative side: • Rivalries & wars between poleis • Also, internal class conflicts

  18. Common Greek Identity • Language • Religion, customs • Athletic contests honoring the gods • City-states form leagues • Delphic Amphityony • Peloponnesian League

  19. Timeline

  20. Age of Colonization • New agriculture types > population growth • Land can’t support population > farmers go into debt • What to do with the surplus population? Colonize!

  21. Age of Colonization • Site for the colony (good soil, enough natural resources, defensible land, good spot for trade) • Independent, but close ties to the mother city (metropolis) • Settled all around Mediterranean

  22. Age of Colonization • Colonies relieved population pressures • Less overcrowding > easier for farmers • Provided resources to mother cities • Supported craftsman (making goods for export)

  23. Age of Colonization • Fostered sense of cultural identity (Panhellenic spirit) • Comparing selves with people from other areas (barbarians)

  24. Question! The Greek colonization movement around 750 BCE occurred primarily because of: • Fear of the Dorian invasion • Overpopulation of Greek lands • Need to escape from internal disputes between city-states • Desire to trade and make money

  25. Answer! The Greek colonization movement around 750 BCE occurred primarily because of: • Fear of the Dorian invasion • Overpopulation of Greek lands • Need to escape from internal disputes between city-states • Desire to trade and make money

  26. Hoplite Phalanx • A compact formation of heavily armored soldiers (“hoplites”) with spears & overlapping shields • Hoplites included farmers, craftsmen, merchants • Crucial for development of poleis & for colonization

  27. Hoplite Phalanx

  28. New Concept of Warfare • Battles become short, brutal, head-on clashes • Wars resolved quickly

  29. Rise of Greek Democracy • Two main paths to democracy: • In agricultural poleis, farmer-hoplites gain more political power gradually, peacefully • In commercial poleis, disgruntled nobles (w/ frustrated middle class) seize power, set up tyranny; later, a revolution and tyrant replaced by more democratic government

  30. Early Greek Democracy • High value placed on equality (at least among citizens) • Polis largely dominated by middle class (small landholders, merchants, craftsmen) • Scope and damage of war limited by hoplite style of warfare

  31. Important Poleis • Sparta • Athens

  32. Rise of Sparta • Instead of colonizing, conquered neighboring Messenians • First Messenian War, ca. 725 BCE • Second Messenian War, ca. 650 BCE • Turned Messenians into slave-farmers (Helots)

  33. Rise of Sparta • Constantly on guard against Helot revolt • Became military state • This shaped many aspects of Spartan society…

  34. Rise of Sparta • Infants • Would be inspected for weakness, defects • State judged whether should live or die

  35. Rise of Sparta • Boys • Age 7 – go to live in barracks • Age 12 – Spartan training truly begins • Age 18 – two years in secret police • Age 20 – enter army • Age 30 – full citizen • Age 50 – able to move home

  36. Rise of Sparta • Girls • Arduous training and exercise in order to bear strong, healthy children • Supervise Helots and run farms • More liberated, outspoken, free

  37. Rise of Sparta • Government • Two kings – lead army • Five officials (ephors) + council of elders • Assembly of all Spartan men – vote on issues • Incredibly stable system, with checks & balances • Led Peloponnesian League

  38. Rise of Sparta • Produced incredible soldiers • Physical prowess • Discipline • Intense training • Loyal to the polis above all

  39. Question! The Spartans felt compelled to make the army the primary focus of their society because: • Of the threat of conquest by Corinth • Of the danger of a Persian invasion • They wanted to conquer the Peloponnesus • Of the threat of rebellion by their slaves

  40. Answer! The Spartans felt compelled to make the army the primary focus of their society because: • Of the threat of conquest by Corinth • Of the danger of a Persian invasion • They wanted to conquer the Peloponnesus • Of the threat of rebellion by their slaves

  41. Athens

  42. Rise of Athens • When Attica was united, conquered people made Athenian citizens (cf Spartan Helots) • Aristocratic rule, council of nobles • Archons (magistrates), but limited power • 632 BCE Cylon attempts a coup • 621 BCE Draco commissioned to write laws • 600 BCE Solon given powers to reform state

  43. Solon’s Economic Reforms • Outlawed export of grain, encouraged olive & grape cultivation • Profits used to import grain from Black Sea • Developed trade & manufacturing in Athens • Especially pottery • Abolished debts & debt slavery

More Related